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Metro Seattle: NHL, NBA and Arena - Part VI

If we consider that the use of Key Arena would only be required if the Coyotes are relocated (expansion would happen after the new arena is done), I think the new owner could withstand losses by making them a "cap floor" team for those first two years. I don't think it would be hard, and without starting a conspiracy theory, I couldn't help but notice how many FA's the Coyotes will have this summer:

The contracts for GM Don Maloney and coach Dave Tippett will also expire at the end of this season. It wouldn't surprise me if they traded Doan, since he only re-signed under the assumption that he'd finish his career in PHX, and that would take his huge contract off the books. They could probably acquire some players who have high cap hits and low actual salaries (maybe not Kiprusoff or Briere, but people with similar contracts), and sit just above the $44M cap floor and have the actual salary be less than that.

I don't know, I'm just speculating, but it would help offset the losses.

That said, the Turbine-inspired arena they're showing off for Seattle is weird and awesome -- especially from the inside. I hope they keep the open glass behind the balconies (and the balconies themselves). I don't know of an arena that has such an outdoor feel.

So Gary Bettman reportedly fumes when Regis Labaume and PKP hint that they'd like NHL hockey in Quebec City, but the league doesn't care when Seattle says the same thing?

Seattle is a far more desirable market for the head office. And from what I've seen, the Seattle leadership isn't actually implying any commitments on the part of the league, they're just being really excited at the possibility.

Seattle is a far more desirable market for the head office. And from what I've seen, the Seattle leadership isn't actually implying any commitments on the part of the league, they're just being really excited at the possibility.

Personally I think it's all but a done deal, but time will tell...!

After following the Coyotes saga for the past couple of years I have come to the conclusion that I have no idea what is going to happen to them, including their maybe even finding some way to stay in Glendale. So who knows. But it is illogical to me that the league would be upset about PKP and Labeaume commenting on looking forward to the NHL, but not be upset about Seattle doing so. But even if it were the case, it could just as easily mean Quebec City is the frontrunner and the league doesn't want that information coming out. After all, if they had no plans to relocate to QC, why would they even care what Labeaume and PKP think or say?

In actuality I'm now leaning toward the conclusion that the rumor whereby GB was upset at PKP and Labeame was actually BS.

After following the Coyotes saga for the past couple of years I have come to the conclusion that I have no idea what is going to happen to them, including their maybe even finding some way to stay in Glendale. So who knows. But it is illogical to me that the league would be upset about PKP and Labeaume commenting on looking forward to the NHL, but not be upset about Seattle doing so. But even if it were the case, it could just as easily mean Quebec City is the frontrunner and the league doesn't want that information coming out. After all, if they had no plans to relocate to QC, why would they even care what Labeaume and PKP think or say?

In actuality I'm now leaning toward the conclusion that the rumor whereby GB was upset at PKP and Labeame was actually BS.

I really don't see what the new alignment has to do with anything. The alignment didn't stop the Thrashers from moving to Winnipeg. And it will be revisited for 2014, no? Didn't Bill Daly say that? Not to mention, who's to say there isn't more than one realignment plan and they only went public with one of them?

Seattle may well be the front-runner for relocation. At this point nothing would surprise me, and Seattle isn't exactly an implausible landing spot for the Coyotes, by any definition. But taking the realignment plan as a grand indication of anything seems a little hasty to me, especially in light of the fact that IIRC Daly specifically said the realignment doesn't reflect any potential expansion or relocation decisions.

That said, the Turbine-inspired arena they're showing off for Seattle is weird and awesome -- especially from the inside. I hope they keep the open glass behind the balconies (and the balconies themselves). I don't know of an arena that has such an outdoor feel.[/QUOTE]

So Gary Bettman reportedly fumes when Regis Labaume and PKP hint that they'd like NHL hockey in Quebec City, but the league doesn't care when Seattle says the same thing?

How exactly has Seattle done anything but get their ducks in a row for when an NHL franchise becomes available. The focus has been on the NBA while at the same time preparing the new arena as well as Key arena in the eventuality the NHL wants to come here. I don't know of any public proclamations about the NHL other than plans for new arena and upgrades to Key.

I really don't see what the new alignment has to do with anything. The alignment didn't stop the Thrashers from moving to Winnipeg. And it will be revisited for 2014, no? Didn't Bill Daly say that? Not to mention, who's to say there isn't more than one realignment plan and they only went public with one of them?

Seattle may well be the front-runner for relocation. At this point nothing would surprise me, and Seattle isn't exactly an implausible landing spot for the Coyotes, by any definition. But taking the realignment plan as a grand indication of anything seems a little hasty to me, especially in light of the fact that IIRC Daly specifically said the realignment doesn't reflect any potential expansion or relocation decisions.

If anything the new realignment says to me the Coyotes are not going anywhere for the time being. They are not going to QC or Seattle. But it says more that they are not going East. Anybody who tries to spin it any other way is involved in wishful thinking. Just my opinion.

If anything the new realignment says to me the Coyotes are not going anywhere for the time being. They are not going to QC or Seattle. But it says more that they are not going East. Anybody who tries to spin it any other way is involved in wishful thinking. Just my opinion.

How exactly has Seattle done anything but get their ducks in a row for when an NHL franchise becomes available. The focus has been on the NBA while at the same time preparing the new arena as well as Key arena in the eventuality the NHL wants to come here. I don't know of any public proclamations about the NHL other than plans for new arena and upgrades to Key.

Well I haven't been following Seattle's progress all that closely, but I was referring to this link posted by superdeluxe...

While I know there may have been a few skeptics out there, I have to say I am just as pumped as most of you to see the return of professional hockey to Seattle, and honestly can't wait to see this building bursting at the seams with crazed Seattle hockey fans.

I just juxtaposed that with PKP and Labeaume's press conference to announce (IIRC) that everything was in place for the construction of QC's new hockey arena, which Bettman apparently went apopleptic about. Don't get me wrong, I think that's a stupid thing for Bettman to be angry about, just as it would be stupid if he were upset about Chris Hansen's post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwpensfan

If anything the new realignment says to me the Coyotes are not going anywhere for the time being. They are not going to QC or Seattle. But it says more that they are not going East. Anybody who tries to spin it any other way is involved in wishful thinking. Just my opinion.

Having followed the Coyotes saga for a couple of years now, my impression is that whether you want them to move to QC or Seattle, you'll take every positive development in your city of choice as evidence they're the frontrunner to receive the Coyotes and dismiss everything that might be construed as a setback. The reality is that none of us knows what's going to happen to them... the Coyotes saga is so full of baffling twists and turns that it doesn't make sense to draw too many conclusions - especially from something as fleeting as an announced realignment that the league has said would be reviewed for 2014-2015 and doesn't take relocation or expansion into account anyway.

You really think the two year review, a date that coincides with both new arenas being finished, is a coincidence?

No, probably not, but doesn't that back up what I said about the announced realignment plan not necessarily making Seattle the front-runner to get the relocated Coyotes? It could just as easily mean Quebec is the front-runner. It could even mean the Coyotes are somehow staying put and after that they'll figure out where to put expansion QC and Seattle.

My point is that there are so many arguments in favor of and against both cities. I don't see why the announced realignment is any more significant than the rest of them, especially when it is so easy to change and the league has announced it could well be changed again in the near future.

Do not see a merger, I see a new RSN popping up to kick their butt or one or the other destroying the other one.

As dumb as 3 RSN's sound of the PNW area, there is enough content to make it work. Seattle area has many sports talk radio channels: 950/102.9 KJR, 710/97.3 ESPN, 1090 CBS, 850 FSN/KJR Tacoma, 1380 KRKO Everett, ...

E: As for the minor league hockey scene, one item discussed locally would be the possibility of the AHL coming to Everett as the minor league team for the Seattle NHL team. The WHL Silvertips would move to Bellingham, WA which is further north and still between Seattle & Vancouver. The WHL Seattle Thunderbirds would stay in the south-end and in the WHL. The AHL option would only work if Abbotsford kept their team going forward. The Everett arena is much nicer than the Seattle/Kent one but caters to a smaller population pool based on its location.

As dumb as 3 RSN's sound of the PNW area, there is enough content to make it work. Seattle area has many sports talk radio channels: 950/102.9 KJR, 710/97.3 ESPN, 1090 CBS, 850 FSN/KJR Tacoma, 1380 KRKO Everett, ...

E: As for the minor league hockey scene, one item discussed locally would be the possibility of the AHL coming to Everett as the minor league team for the Seattle NHL team. The WHL Silvertips would move to Bellingham, WA which is further north and still between Seattle & Vancouver. The WHL Seattle Thunderbirds would stay in the south-end and in the WHL. The AHL option would only work if Abbotsford kept their team going forward. The Everett arena is much nicer than the Seattle/Kent one but caters to a smaller population pool based on its location.

I love how the article's author states that the only presence the NHL has in the American Northwest is the San Jose Sharks. The NHL has zero presence in the American Northwest. San Jose is a West Coast team, not a Northwest team.